Symantec Backs Up Linux

Symantec is adding Linux support to its Backup Exec System Recovery software.

Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) is adding Linux support to its Backup Exec System Recovery solution for small businesses.

Backup Exec System Recovery 2010, a data and system backup and recovery solution that offers bare metal restore, automates the backup process of an entire system or individual files and folders and allows for quick restores to the same or dissimilar hardware, virtual machines or remote locations.

BESR 2010 adds support for Windows 7, Microsoft Exchange 2010 and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Server 2008 R2, and it will also support Linux operating systems for the first time, starting with Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) and Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL) SUSE. The Linux version will be available next month.

The new version also comes with Symantec's Granular Recovery Option, which was previously optional. The feature lets small businesses back up an entire file server, desktop, laptop, virtual server or critical application server, such as Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft SharePoint, and then restore "granular" items such as individual Exchange e-mails, SharePoint documents or individual files quickly.

Backups can be saved to a variety of disk storage devices and can be copied to an off-site location or secondary disk device for disaster recovery purposes.

BESR comes in server, desktop and virtual editions and is available in 11 languages, although the Linux version will initially only come in an English version.

Susie Spencer, senior product marketing manager for Backup Exec System Recovery, said BESR gives users "a look into the entire environment so they can see what's protected and what needs to be backed up."

Early next year, Symantec plans new releases of other products, including NetBackup 7, Backup Exec 2010, and Enterprise Vault Exchange 2010.